Disc Brake, in Particular for a Commercial Vehicle

Abstract

A disc brake, in particular for a commercial vehicle, has functional components that can be reused after use and subsequent examination for operational safety. The disc brake is designed in such a way that at least each of the safety-relevant functional components is equipped with at least one indicator, the operation-related service life of which is less than the safety-relevant ranges of the functional components.

Claims

1. A disc brake, comprising: at least one functional component that is reusable after use and subsequent examination for operational safety, wherein the one safety-relevant functional component is equipped with at least one indicator, and the indicator has an operation-related service life that is shorter than a safety-relevant range of the functional component.

2. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the indicator is in a roller bearing of a brake lever, said indicator is embodied as a rolling body provided with a notch, and the indicator is held, with the rest of the rolling body of the roller bearing, in a cage.

3. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is embodied as a connected fin or web on a brake caliper, a brake lever or on another functional component of the disc brake.

4. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is integrally cast on in a case of a cast functional component.

5. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is attached by machining.

6. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator, which is arranged on a brake caliper, is embodied as a bracket with a triangular contour, having limbs bounding a free internal space.

7. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator of a brake caliper is embodied in a bone shape, with two thickened ends and a web which has a smaller cross section in comparison.

8. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is composed of a spring element or clamped-in wire.

9. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is formed from a piece of sheet metal which is integrally cast in or connected in a positively locking fashion.

10. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is composed of a DU bearing which is provided with a contact.

11. The disc brake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disc brake has a brake lever, a bridge and a caliper, which are functional components.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] In the drawings:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a brake lever as a detail in a perspective view.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the brake lever, also illustrated in a perspective view.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a detail of a brake caliper of a disc brake in a figurative illustration.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a further detail of the brake caliper, also in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 illustrates a brake lever 1 of a disc brake which can be activated pneumatically or by electric motor and is embodied as an eccentric lever. The lever 1 has a receptacle 8, which is trough-shaped at the free end, upon which a plunger of a brake cylinder acts functionally.

[0050] The opposite end of the lever 1 from the receptacle 8 is embodied as an eccentric 9, which is supported, on the one hand, on a displaceable bridge, which is arranged in the interior of a brake caliper 7 of the disc brake, and, on the other hand, on the brake caliper 7 by way of roller bearings 2.

[0051] In the example shown, the roller bearings 2 form generic functional components, wherein they are embodied as needle bearings, with needles which are held in a cage 6.

[0052] According to the invention, the functional component, that is to say the roller bearing 2, is equipped with at least one indicator 4. The service life of the indicator 4, which is conditioned by operation, is shorter than that of the roller bearing 2.

[0053] For this purpose, the indicator 4, which is in the form of a needle, comparable to those which serve as roller bearings, has a circumferential notch 5, as a result of which damage occurs to the indicator 4, extending as far as a fracture, when a predetermined loading time is exceeded.

[0054] It is essential here that the service life of the indicator 4, which is conditioned by operation, is shorter than that of the roller bearings, i.e. of the needles.

[0055] The formation of the indicator 4 in the region of the roller bearing 2 is illustrated particularly clearly in FIG. 2, which represents an enlarged detail from FIG. 1.

[0056] In FIG. 3, a detail of a brake caliper 7 of a disc brake is represented with a bone-shaped indicator 4, i.e. with two thickened ends, which are connected to one another by a web which has a smaller cross section in comparison.

[0057] Depending on the loading of the brake caliper 7, the indicator 4 is deformed or destroyed, before the brake caliper 7 is damaged to an unusable extent.

[0058] A further example of an indicator 4 is shown in FIG. 4, which represents a detail of the brake caliper 7 in the region of a connecting piece 10 of a sliding bearing in which a guide element, connected to a vehicle-side brake carrier, is mounted. In this context, the indicator 4 is configured in the manner of a bracket, having three limbs which form the edge region, resulting in a triangular contour and bound a free internal space.

[0059] Depending on the loading which is taken up, the indicator 4 is also deformed or destroyed over time, with the result that after removal of the brake caliper 7 it is apparent whether reuse is possible.

[0060] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.